Good afternoon everyone,
I decided to consult another ent on friday afternoon. I did some research on their office and a background on the specialist I visited and he seemed quite knowledgeable and experienced in the field of otolaryngology head and neck cancers. so i decided id give him a try, prior to my visit they asked if i had any records from past visits from other specialist which i did so i took everything with me. when the doctor walked in he asked what was the reason for my visit and i began to tell him of all my symptoms and the numerous specialists i had seen and the constant diagnosis of acid reflux. He searched in the back of my tongue looked at my lump/lesion as i stressed my concern with oral cancer he pulled out my tongue and said that it didnt look cancerous and that I was stressing myself out and going into depression which could impact my health dramatically he said he understood my concern and frustration at not finding an answer for my symptoms and pain and told him i was completely terrified. He said that i looked fine and that i would be fine despite me telling him that i didnt feel fine. i asked why my tongue was swollen or thick in that region and it scared me that it could be a tumor hence at times it would burn and he answered by saying that if it would be a tumor with the six months going through this it would be growing by now he felt that part of my tongue and said it didnt look serious. I told him i felt a small lump in my throat which he felt and said not to worry about it that it was nothing serious to me it felt like an enlarged lymph node. he prescribed a mouthwash and said the only other option i had would be for him to perform a biopsy of the region. However, he said that in my case he felt that it was going to be costly painful and unecessary hence he would have to anesthesize me and remove a portion of my tongue through surgery. He assured me that it didnt look like cancer and the chances of me having it were really minimal and felt a second biopsy would be intrusive and unnecessary. He sent me home telling me to take the medication and if i didnt get any better to call him within 2 weeks to a month. Yesterday and today i have been feeling worse i have this feeling like the left side of my face goes numb or like an indescribable pain particularly around my cheekbone which happens to be on the same side where all my symptoms occur. I told him I was completely terrified that its cancer and it must be spreading or mestasising and doctors are neglecting to tell me he said he understood my agony and frustration he sat there with me for an hour telling me to relax that the stress and frustration may be causing other pain.....Idk what to do now im completely down i feel that im dying the symptoms progressively worsen as time progresses and they tell me it is not cancer but if it is not then wat is it?.........with this specialists ive seen a total of 7 ENT's 1 oral surgeon and 1 dentist and no accurate diagnosis just a constant reassurance that it is not cancer and im fine....idk if i should go to the hospital due to the face pain.... ive been beginning to think that theres some other type of nonmedical explanation for my pain. I get very saddened due to the lack of a diagnosis I have a beautiful girlfriend I just found a job graduated college and this condition whatever it is inhibits and torments my daily life.........any suggestions?

I think that after seeing 7 ENT specialists that you can be confident that you do not have cancer. Please try to move on with your life. I also wonder if you should see a therapist to talk about all this with and to help you put it in perspective. Maybe anxiolytics medications would help too. Relax. Many Drs have now told you that you do not have cancer.
Tammy

fhdez7288 � I am so sorry for all the pain and the frustration you have been through. Worry and stress can indeed seriously affect your health. The connection between the body and the mind can actually produce physical symptoms. Some responses which were previously thought to be controlled by the autonomic nervous system (automatically or not physically controlled) like heart rate, blood pressure � have been shown to be controlled with biofeedback exercises.

You have already done a very extensive research of your physical symptoms with doctors well qualified in their field, and maybe it is time (as you note) to find out whether there is a nonmedical explanation for your pain and physical symptoms. If you decide to seek the help of a therapist, I hope you do the same kind of thorough research you have done in finding an ENT and apply it to finding an experienced and qualified therapist, one with a degree that will allow him/her to prescribe medications if necessary. I do not have a medical background but it would seem to me that some experience in hypnotherapy and biofeedback would also be helpful. You have every reason to hope for and expect a good life � plus a beautiful girlfriend! Check back here and let us know how you are doing.

Do what the dr asked. Take the medication as prescribed, do some yoga to relax yourself ( i am not being facetious here either it really is great ) and if after two to three weeks nothing has changed or the situation has worsened go back to the same ENT... and say... OKAY now what?

Thank you all for the replies I greatly appreciate it,

At times I worry that perhaps due to the fact that i dont have insurance and must pay cash on my visits that the majority of these doctors brush me aside despite describing my symptoms to them and it frustrates me. Many i feel are inclined to provide any excuse or explanation such as acid reflux just to send me home and not search any further into my problem idk whether to feel this way or not or if theres a lack of care for those patients who dont have medical insurance. It just stuns me that all of these doctors have said the same thing and i feel as if i might be going crazy becasuse i definitely feel the physical symptoms and cant say they are psychological...on another note I called back the same ENT i saw on friday and asked for an estimate on a second biopsy becuase regardless of whther its painful or not i would like some peace of mind and the costly aspect of it I honestly believe you cant put a price on life and id rather completely rule out the possibility of having oral cancer through a second biopsy if i must do so...

Thanks for the advice it means alot for all of you to take the time and reply to my concerns and frustrations thank you.....

fh, you've really done just about everything you can medically, it seems to me, to cover your bases. Most of us here can attest to the fact that doctors really do have your best interests at heart. Sure, there are the occasional bad stories, but by and large these people get into the field because they want to help people heal and feel better. The odds on your finding even two, let alone 7, who are in it only for the money are to my mind overwhelming.

I too live in Los Angeles and have had plenty of experience with local doctors over nearly 30 years here, both my own and those of friends and family. To a man and woman they've been wonderful, caring, and people I and others have trusted our lives to with every good reason.

I urge you to follow the previous posters' advice and talk to a compassionate therapist. I think it might give you some much-needed perspective and help you share a tough time. We are also always here to help as well, so please do continue to post and we'll respond.

All the Best to you.

Dez,

I agree. The body reacts physically to stress, and you have put yourself into a mode of thinking you are dying. It effects your blood, your hormones and other physical reactions.

Even though I have been diagnosed with cancer, I never once thought I was dying.

I'm not trying to discount your concerns, but after seeing this many people it is time to accept their advice that it is not cancer, and try to move on with your beautiful girlfriend and your career plans.